Wednesday, 16 October 2013

SPH

OCBC on 14 Oct 2013

SPH reported FY13 (ending 31 Aug) PATMI of S$431.0m – down 25.0% – mainly due to a lower fair value gain on investment properties and a S$40.4m increase in the “other operating expenses” item. Accounting for one-time items, core PATMI is estimated at S$348.9m, which constitutes 96.5% of our FY13 forecast and is judged to be mostly in line. In addition, a final dividend of 15.0 S-cents per share was announced. Management reported that it will set up a S$100m New Media Fund to invest in media-related businesses and has also began cost-saving initiatives to generate savings of S$19m per annum. We see management’s twin initiatives for growth and cost savings to be key positives and would look for execution and preliminary results over 1HFY14. Maintain HOLD with a fair value estimate of S$4.14.

Final dividend of 15.0 S-cents per share
SPH reported FY13 (ending 31 Aug) PATMI of S$431.0m – down 25.0% – mainly due to a lower fair value gain on investment properties and a S$40.4m increase in the “other operating expenses” item. This increase comprises S$26.0m of non-recurring charges, including an impartment of an overseas magazine subsidiary, and a S$8.0m hike in promotion costs for its online businesses. Accounting for one-time items, core PATMI is estimated at S$348.9m, which constitutes 96.5% of our FY13 forecast and is judged to be mostly in line. In terms of the topline, newspaper and magazine revenue for FY13 was S$991.2m, decreasing 3.9% YoY due to declines in both advertisement and circulation. A final dividend of 15.0 S-cents per share was announced.

Initiatives to generate S$19m cost savings per annum
SPH’s traditional newspaper and magazines business continue to face headwinds in the form of declining advertisement (down 4.0%) and circulation revenues (down 3.6%). On the cost-side of the equation, however, we saw staff cost decreasing 2.9% as variable bonuses were reduced. Newsprint prices also held steady at US$607 over 4QFY13. In addition, management has began cost-saving initiatives that are expected to generate savings of S$19m per annum. Over FY13, property rental income increased 3.5% due to higher rental rates from Paragon while income from Clementi Mall remained stable. Seletar Mall remains on track and we expect completion by Dec 14.

Driving growth in new media businesses
To further drive growth, SPH will set up a S$100m New Media Fund to invest in media-related businesses. Currently, the group’s online classified businesses across SE Asia has an enterprise value of S$303m, and management expects its new media businesses, together with its retail property segment, to form two key pillars for growth ahead. Overall, we see management’s initiatives for growth and cost savings to be key positives and would look for execution and preliminary results over 1HFY14. Maintain HOLD with a fair value estimate of S$4.14.

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